Report: Senegal Arrests Created "Panic" Among AIDS Activists

The nine gay men who were HIV/AIDS counselors were sentenced to eight years in prison. The activists were charged with "indecent and unnatural acts" and the judge added three years to their sentences for "forming associations of criminals"—the AIDS prevention organization.

"These charges will have a chilling effect on AIDS programs," said
Scott Long, director of Human Rights Watch's lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender rights program. "Outreach workers and people seeking
HIV prevention or treatment should not have to worry about police
persecution. Senegal should drop these charges and repeal its sodomy
law." ...

Sources told Human Rights Watch that the men were beaten in detention,
which would constitute a significant violation of Senegal's
international human rights obligations.

HIV and AIDS advocates in Senegal report that the ruling has
produced widespread panic among organizations addressing HIV and AIDS,
particularly those working with men who have sex with men and other
marginalized populations.

The irony is that arrests comes only days after Senegal hosted an international AIDS conference that included gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender participants

Senegal is a primarily Muslim nation in West Africa and one of 38
countries on the continent that criminalize homosexual acts—which have
been rarely
enforced until recently. The arrests are the latest in an anti-gay crackdown that has gone on for more than one year. In early 2008, the capital city of Dakar was rocked by anti-gay riots after the arrest and release of five men accused of participating in a same-sex wedding. A popular gay entertainer received death threats and was forced to seek asylum in America.

There is more we can do. Please take time to sign the petition posted by the African LGBT group in England. (See the link below.) Who knows how far that would go? I foresee more trouble in more African Countries for 2009 for the lgbt communities.